Disproportionation refers to a specific type of redox reaction where a single species undergoes both oxidation and reduction, resulting in the formation of two different products. The term "disproportionate" highlights the unsymmetrical nature of this process, as it involves a single reactant that is not equally divided in terms of oxidation states. This reaction typically occurs with species in a medium oxidation state, where there are available oxidation states both below and above the medium state. The unique characteristics of disproportionation reactions make them significant in understanding redox chemistry.
